Fools view success as eternal glory, only to be consumed by arrogance and fall into the abyss of confusion and darkness. Sages, however, see success as the motivation following brief brilliance, wielding the sword of success to clear the thorns from their path.
My cousin and I were in the same grade. During a school ceremony in our first year of junior high, my grandmother curiously asked, "Which of you two brothers has the advantage in academic performance?" I arrogantly replied, "It's definitely me!" Even though my cousin's grades were much better, he remained humble and did not argue. Grandmother then proposed a game: we would compare our grades in the next semester to decide who was superior. I boldly challenged him, vowing to conquer him, while my cousin met my bravado with silence. An intense struggle began—who would emerge victorious?
Despite my grand and stirring vows, I wasted my years by immersing myself in computer games instead of taking action. My cousin was different; whenever he had free time, he would focus intently on reading books. I often provoked him with a dismissive look, saying, "No matter how hard you try, you can't compete with me because heaven has granted me superior intelligence." My cousin remained silent, meeting my gaze with a sense of calm composure. Whenever my grandmother saw me lost in the internet, she would sigh, "Alas, the outcome is already known." At the time, I looked at her with confusion, unaware of the wisdom in her words. Time flew by, and the monthly exams approached. I met them with determination, believing this would be my stage to shine and prove my dominance over my cousin. However, the reality of the battlefield was far more complex and harsh than I had imagined. Due to a lack of solid knowledge, I struggled at every turn, feeling as if I were being struck by surging waves, barely managing to complete each exam paper. When the results were finally announced, I suffered a crushing defeat, which shattered my arrogance and made me deeply realize the heavy cost of wasting time.
